Music star Tongai Moyo said to be ‘homeless’

By Mtandazo Dube

For all his fame and flair, Kwekwe-based sungura musician Tongai “Dhewa” Moyo has nothing to show for it. Not even a house. After more than a decade in the music industry and about 14 albums under his belt, the Utakataka Express frontman is still living in a rented house in Msasa, Kwekwe.

He belongs to the elite league of Zimbabwean musicians yet he is the only one among that lot who does not have a permanent roof over his head. Oliver Mtukudzi besides having houses in Harare and Norton, also owns properties in South Africa. Dhewa’s erstwhile friend, Alick Macheso, has more than one house in Harare while his ex-guitarist, Innocent Mjintu, also owns a house.

Madzibaba Zakaria lives in his own Chitungwiza house while others like Leonard Zhakata and the Charambas (Pastor Charles and Olivia) live in the leafy suburbs of Harare. Even Kireni Zulu built and now stays in his own house, a feat he often boasts about, but Dhewa for all his lavish lifestyle and popularity is still a lodger.

He currently does not have any significant investments to fall back on as his recently opened Samanyemba Record Bars in Kwekwe and Kadoma have folded while he is still hunting for a recording studio after quitting Gramma Records last year.

The musician has even been desperately trying to get a “house for an album” contract, with any recording studio interested in him.

Unconfirmed word is that embattled record label, Last Power Media, once had discussions with the musician over such an agreement but the talks hit a brick wall after they failed to agree on certain aspects of such a contract.

Cash-rich Diamond Studios, which is also trying to lure top artistes to their stable, confirmed that Dhewa had approached them but were yet to put pen to paper.

“We have held lengthy discussions with Tongai since he publicly announced that his contract had expired with Gramma Records sometime in November last year.

“I cannot go into the nitty-gritties of our discussions, but I am sure if you talk to him he might tell you. I understand he is still weighing his options before he finally puts pen to paper,” said Diamond Studios artiste and repertoire manager Pathisani Sibanda.

Emion Sibindi, the owner of Metro Studios — one of the biggest record labels in the country — also confirmed that Dhewa had approached them with some proposals in order for him to give them his business but declined to shed more light.

So dire is Dhewa’s situation that live performances and meagre royalties have become his only sources of income that even with his two chemotherapy sessions per month, which often leave him drained and tired mentally and physically, he still has to fulfil several shows.

And from that income the musician has to look after his extended family, pay band members and hospital bills, among many other expenses. His widely talked about businesses in his rural home of Sosombe, about 30 kilometres out of Kwekwe, have become white elephants while his small plot in the same area has not been commercialised.

A recent visit by this paper to the musician’s base in Kwekwe and his rural home revealed that the musician, who is battling non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer, has been frantically trying to build a house in the high-density suburb of Mbizo.

However, the three-bedroomed house, which lies on a modest piece of land, has not been touched since last November. The house has been at roof level for the past seven months and neighbours say the place has now become an eyesore.

Mai Machona, one of the neighbours, tried in vain to rid the place of any garbage and several small shrubs that have now engulfed the house when she spotted our cameras.

“He was building at a steady pace for sometime last year but in November he just stopped and we have not seen anyone around this property since then. If you want to take pictures for newspapers please just allow me to remove some of the mess,” said the good-nurtured elderly neighbour.

Dhewa’s Samanyemba Enterprises, which include a grocery store and a bar in Sosombe — about four kilometres from his rural home — are said to have stopped operating mid-last year.

Dhewa’s nephew, Brilliant Ndlovu, who stays at the place, said they had stopped operating soon after the death of Dhewa’s first wife, Barbara, who used to run the place.

“We had started well especially when we officially opened the place and had Josphat Somanje at his peak perform for locals. Even Sekuru (Dhewa) also did a show here and things really looked set.

“As you can see this place has no electricity, there are only three buildings at this growth point and business is not that good. But I believe we will be opening soon for business,” he said.

However, fellow shop operators at the place who saw Samanyemba Enterprises rise and fall within a short space of time attributed the business’ collapse to the many relatives Dhewa has and their desire to all get involved in its running.

Getting an interview from the musician during the visit failed as he was in Harare for his chemotherapy. Fortunately, he knew about this paper’s visits and phoned us as soon as he got back to his base in Kwekwe on Thursday morning.

However, the musician refused to answer specific questions relating to this story but instead accused The Sunday Mail Leisure crew of wrongful conduct in Kwekwe and in Sosombe during the tour, before promising to phone later for a proper interview.

Knowledge Chosa, Dhewa’s nephew who now runs his own businesses after leaving Utakataka Express sometime last year, said: “Things are bad. Almost everything has collapsed but I stay committed because I am family and we have come a long way with my uncle. One thing I have made sure though is that the band does not collapse. I will do anything in my power because I know that it is his passion and life.

“As for other projects I tend to take a back seat because he is my elder and I cannot be seen to be ‘taking over’ the running of his affairs. I could have helped with the house inMbizo, but I can’t because of the same reason — this is family and in family there is politics,” said Chosa.

Dhewa’s friend, Peter Phiri, also known as Pedro, said his friend’s illness had eaten into his capabilities and could not understand how the ailing musician had allowed “journalists to poke their nose into his private life”.

Pedro had been recommended by the musician as our point man in Kwekwe but on arrival the “family friend” was unwilling to assist in any way, but did agree to meet us only to advise that we return to Harare and leave his friend’s personal life alone.

“Guys I can’t help you, Tongai needs help, which is why I answer his mobile phone and take care of some of his affairs — as his friends and relatives we are now his support system. Please just go, I can’t help you on this one,” said Pedro.

Dhewa, though, still insists that he is no charity case and is even on record as making the declaration not once or twice, but several times.